From Fighter Pilot to Scrum Creator: Jeff Sutherland on Doing More with Less

Listen in as Erin and Jeff discuss:

• How Jeff’s career as a fighter pilot, cancer researcher, and tech leader shaped the creation of Scrum.
• Why breaking work into small, prioritized pieces can eliminate 75% of wasted effort.
• The importance of “working with the willing” and creating a culture of commitment.
• How Scrum teams can quickly identify performance gaps and self-correct.
• Why adaptability and short feedback cycles are critical in the AI era
• … and much more.

About

Dr. Jeff Sutherland, co-creator of Scrum, is a global pioneer in agile methodologies. A West Point graduate and former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, he flew over 100 missions in Vietnam, honing skills in adaptability and teamwork. After earning a Ph.D. in Biometrics and working as a cancer researcher, Jeff transitioned to technology, starting the first Scrum team in 1993 at Easel Corporation, naming it after Takeuchi and Nonaka’s rugby-inspired concept. A signatory of the 2001 Agile Manifesto, he developed Scrum@Scale and founded Scrum Inc., training thousands to achieve double the productivity in half the time. His books, including Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time and First Principles in Scrum, share his insights on building high-performing teams.

How to Connect With Jeff

• Website: https://www.scruminc.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsutherland
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScrumInc/
• X profile: https://x.com/jeffsutherland
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/scruminc

Recommended Resources

• Book: Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time: https://www.amazon.com/Scrum-Doing-Twice-Work-Half/dp/038534645X
• Book: First Principles in Scrum: Advanced Strategies and Reflections: https://leanpub.com/firstprinciplesinscrum
• Scrum Guide: https://scrumguides.org/